I’m over the moon to have a happy and healthy child and each day I feel grateful when I look into her eyes. A scare during pregnancy and a special care unit trip once she was born made me aware family life and parenthood isn’t always straightforward, so I wanted to try and do my bit to help others experiencing tough times.

GOSH stayed in touch after the Race for the Kids and pitched its Santa Dash to me, which was set for Sunday 3rd December at Clapham Common.

Bizarrely, I was remarkably confident for someone whose mates don’t have any children – something that took me into the blogging world in the first place. But, I’ve met plenty of dads on Instagram, I’ll be able to get them involved, I thought…

When I set out to bring a team together for the Fatherhood of Christmas back in October, I thought it would be a relatively easy sell. I naively believed people would bite my hand off to get a piece of the action.

I soon came to realise that proposing a 5k or 10k run on a frosty winter’s morning is probably not as inviting as going for a couple of cold ones. I was also concerned about pitching a Christmas event before Halloween had even happened, but at the same time, it was a case of sooner the better, lest it get too close to the race and people have no time to train.

And, also a thank you to everyone who has donated to the fund. Your contributions will make an incredible impact to GOSH patients. If you’re yet to make a donation and would like to, you can access the funding page here.

But just who are the members of The Fatherhood of Christmas? What lunatics dressed up as St Nick for a parkland run? Who decided they didn’t want to wear any clothes underneath their costume (Answer: Simmane)? I’ve fired a few questions at them to paint a better picture – I got the ball rolling.

I like to think of myself as a storyteller, but according to my CV I’m a journalist.

What’s on your Christmas list?

Cocktail kit (The commute is taking its toll).

Bakery book (An after effect of Great British Bake Off – I want to be a Paul Hollywood-Liam crossover, plus I’ll need something to soak up the cocktails).

Socks (Dad cliché, yes, but I actually need them – God, who am I?).

And what are the kids after from Father Christmas?

Think Roma has got her eyes on a PS4 bundle. You get that, Jenna?

Likes:

Cinema, popcorn and peanut M&Ms – not always at the same time, I’m not that greedy.

Dislikes:

Rudeness makes my blood boil. Perfect example: How hard is it to say thank you if someone holds a door open for you? I routinely snarl a “you’re welcome” when anyone does shit like that, which makes me feel a bit better.

If you could choose one superpower, what would it be?

Very tough call – supernerd over here. But, I’d probably have to go with superspeed – I’d be able to change Roma’s nappies before the overwhelming stench reaches my nose. Or telekinesis – it’d help with the rudeness problem and I’d mentally slam a lot of doors clean shut, thus bringing about my transition to supervillain.

How active are you?

Before Roma was born I’d exercise five to six times a week. Since Roma I’ve averaged at around twice a week.

What made you do the London Santa Dash?

After recognising parenting can have lows to the highs, I realised how challenging it must be for families with young children requiring special care. After doing the RBC Race for the Kids, moving onto the Santa Dash was a natural progression.

Reckon you’ll be more active now the run is out the way?

I’ll do what I can throughout the Christmas period to balance the excessive amount of eating I’ve already started. But new year is when I’ll hope to ramp things up a notch and get more of a routine in place. After doing my first 10K, I’m eager to push myself to take on some other challenges.

New year targets?

Keep making as many family memories as possible and get some more dad meets on the go!

Name / Instagram name: Patrick / Don’t have Instagram!

Father of: Rachel (22), Daniel (20) 😬😬

How do you pay for stuff?

IT contractor and selling my body parts – anyone in the market for a big toe?

What’s on your Christmas list?

What do you get the guy who has nothing? Nothing, don’t get his hopes up.

Pyjamas – one can never be too comfy, waiting for the office onesie (TM) to be invented.

Is this turning into a dating website? Umm fish (pescatarian, like Rastafarian, but without the dreadlocks) peanut M&M’s, rum and coke, cheese; lots of cheese.

Dislikes:

People who think men should apologise for having a pulse.

If you could choose one superpower, what would it be?

Ability to fly. Scared of heights, but would get over that for the opportunity of cheaper holidays abroad!

How active are you?

Exercise between three to four times a week. When they were younger hardly at all. Started training again when they were eight and ten as I wanted to get THEM out of sitting in front of a TV/computer and doing something physical. Kept going from there.

What made you do the London Santa Dash?

Simmane conned me into it. Told me to either join him or pay up – I decided to go for the cheapskate option only to find you have to pay up anyway.

Reckon you’ll be more active now the run is out the way?

I run most weekends anyway and I am planning to continue training over the Christmas period in prep for next year. Hoping to push my mileage back up again.

Definitely people who can’t seem to say the words thank you after doing them a favour.

If you could choose one superpower, what would it be?

I would LOVE to be able to use the Force and have a lightsabre (Yes, I was named after Luke Skywalker).

How active are you?

I was very active before my daughter was born. I used to train in martial arts, use the gym and swim constantly.

Now I do a lot less but I do so much walking as part of my job. Now and again I would go for a run.

What made you do the London Santa Dash?

I was asked by Zen who happened to arrange a team of runners to take part. I normally run the Teach First ‘Run the River’ each year but I was away. So I thought I’d give this a go instead!

Reckon you’ll be more active now the run is out the way?

Hopefully, I’ve managed to secure myself a running partner at work for the new year!

New year targets?

I don’t really make new year resolution or targets as I personally think that if you want to do or achieve something then you don’t need a new year to do it!

Name / Instagram name: Simmane / Not quite there yet

Father of: Ava (Four months’ old)

How do you pay for stuff?

Director of an IT recruitment business (or pimping off good folks in IT work if you ask Pat).

What’s on your Christmas list?

Just a Fred Perry gym bag.

And what are the kids after from Father Christmas?

Kids… Are you saying I’ve got more children…hmm…

A trike bike is what we’re getting Ava and a Jumperoo in January as I know they’ll go on sale and Ava’s not really know the difference in time of purchase.

Likes:

Time with family and friends.

Fun activities

Holidays

New experiences

My job – yep, I said it…

Being happy everyday

Dislikes:

None really. Lucky-go-happy type of person. Accepting that everyone’s different – I might not agree but try not to judge by my principles/standards.

If you could choose one superpower, what would it be?

Invincibility, so I’m guaranteed to see Ava grow and be there to support her through life.

How active are you?

I’m actively thinking 24/7. I do a short eight-minute run and ten-minute bike ride almost every weekday as I aim to make the train…

What made you do the London Santa Dash?

Zen told me about it, but in truth I mainly did it because I’m trying to get more involved with charitable things. So something for GOSH was a no brainer given my current life agenda, and me recently becoming a father.

Reckon you’ll be more active now the run is out the way?

Regretfully not, but I keep telling myself everyday when I look in mirror that I somehow need to find time to be more active.

New year targets?

Don’t really do the new year thing, simply aim to create a better tomorrow and have fun today.

By enabling the world to manage data through world-class memory and storage solutions. Is that my corporate company vision I hear you ask? Of course it is. I basically sell memory.

What’s on your Christmas list?

I write to Santa every year asking for him to bring me a vintage Mercedes 300SL Gullwing. I am hopeful that 2017 is the year he will deliver!

And what are the kids after from Father Christmas?

Eden has asked for a triceratops bike, Hulk Smash foam hands, some Lego and a box of 100 Jaffa cakes! He saw them being sold in Home Bargains and took my comment “you can’t have them today Eden, but maybe Santa will bring you some if you’re a good boy” quite literally. They got added to his list that day and have remained there ever since!

Xander is only just one, so he has absolutely no idea what Christmas is. He’ll probably mostly excited about getting his hands on the packaging from Eden’s toys. And at least 65 of his Jaffa cakes!

Road rage, I don’t get it! Why do people think it’s acceptable to shout and swear at people for making a little mistake on the road?! If someone got in your way when your walking down the road chances are you would both say “sorry” But put those same people behind a wheel of a car and there shouting and swearing at each other. It’s madness!!!

If you could choose one superpower, what would it be?

To watch a film past 8pm and stay awake. It’s a super power most people are born with. I’ve half watched more films than I can remember. Even if we go to the cinema past 8pm, it’s just ends up being an expensive nap.

How active are you?

Right now I’m working out five days per week lifting weights. But that usually only lasts three months.

What made you do the London Santa Dash?

Sam (dadofmadlads) asked me to join the team! My daughter had a lot of health complications when she was younger and we visited GOSH many times so it meant a lot to me to be able to do the run.